Conveyer chain for canning apparatus



S.' T. HOYT AND J. S. NAPIER. v CONVEYER CHAIN FOR CANNING APPARATUS.

Patented June 6, 1922..

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 9,192].

lire/z Z81? UNITED STATES.

PATENT v OFFICE.

SIMES T HOYT AND JOHN S. NAQPIER, OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII, I

ASSIGNORS' TO HAWAIIAN PINEAPPLE COMPANY, LIMITED, OF HONOLULU,

TERBITQRY OF HAWAII;

CONVEYER CHAIN ron CANNING APPARATUS.

- JOHN S. NAPIER, citizens ofv the United be conveyed or rolled along said tracks.

States, residing at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Chains for Cannmg Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as' will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention' relates to improvements in conveyer mechanism for canning apparatus,- and particularly to a conveyer chain construction adapted for use in conjunction with a double-track arrangement, whereby lateral extensions of the chain proper are deslgned to engage one or more cans positioned on said tracks and cause them to be carried or rolled along with the movementof sa-id chain. v

It is frequently convenient, in canning apparatus, to cause the cans to roll on tracks or runways so disposed that the cans will not roll as desired by gravity, and in such cases the herein described device is particularly applicable, whereby a movable chain, adapted to run over sprockets, is provided with lateral arms or projections which will extend over the tracks and cause the cans 1to n this connection, it has been found highly desirable to have a chain in which these lateral projections are at all times in the center line of the chain which produces satisfactory results in causing the cans to roll on the tracks in the manner herein set forth.

The principal object of the invention is to it is desired to manipulate the cansin the manner stated, said device being particularly applicable to the continuously operated can ning apparatus of either the cooker or cooler type, forming the subject matter of a copending application, filed March 28th, 1921, Serial No. 456,147.

A further and important object of the in- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed February 9, 1921. Serial No. 443,549.

I vention is the provision of a type of, chain particularly adapted to the cannlng apparatus as disclosed in the co-pending application above referred to. In this especial form of canning apparatus a conveyer chain is adapted to travel continuously from one flight to the next higher flight, running over sprockets arranged at the opposite ends and between each flight, the conveyer chain travelling along each flight in opposite directions.' This reversing of the direction of travel of the continuous chain in the .manner aforesaid causes a turning over, or a reversing of the chain itself, or, in other words, what would be the top of the chain on one flight, would be the bottom of the chain on the next succeeding flight. It is highly desirable that the laterally extending armsof the chain at all times engage the center line of the cans to cause the correct movement of the cans along each flight. These various desired results are accomplished by the particular type of chain herein illustrated and described, whereby the laterally extending arms are at all times maintalned in suspended relation with respect to the longitudinal center line of the chain, which is the only portion of said conveyer chain which is supported in its course round the respective sprockets and flights.

Generallystated, the invention comprises a conveyer chain of the type commonly used in connection with sprockets and the like, wherein certain selected pintles or. connecting pins, forming, the connections between the links, are elongated or extended laterally of the chain to either one or both sides thereof to form arms overhanging one or more trackways along which cans and the like are conveyed, the arms adapted to engage the cans causing them to roll on be carried along the trackway with the movement of the chain. These laterally dlsposed armsat their point of contact with their respective cans are further provided with anti-frictional rollers, preferably of larger diameter than the arm, so that said rollers will not only materially reduce the friction between the cans and the arm but will also prevent the arms from coming in contact with the rims of the cans, thereby preventing the injury of the cans at these points.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan View, illustrating the improved conveyer chain construction,

portionof Fig. 1, illustrating the-means of securin the rollers on the ends of the laterally disposed arms of the chain.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the preferred form of chain in connection with which the invention is illustrated, comprises a sprocket chain of substantial pattern well adapted for the work indicated, consisting of associated links 1, inter-connected by pintles or connecting pins 2 in .any improved manner, one end of'each link having inwardly extending portions 3 forming journals or the like, upon which are mounted the customary .roller bearings 4, for engaging with the supporting sprockets, not shown. v I

In adapting the invention to the type of chain indicated, according to the intervals desired, there are provided laterally extending arms 5, formed as a continuation of the pintles or connecting pins 2 of the contiguous links 1. These lateral arms 5-may either be formed on each connecting pin, alternate pins, or at any convenient spacing as desired, but the alternate arrangement, as shown, has

, been found must useful and efficient in conchain.

bearing for the roller 7 journalled on that,

end of said arm. The roller 7 is locked on th s extension in this position by a split retainlng washer 8, inserted in diametrically opposite grooves 9, formed in the end port1on of said arm 5 adjacent the outside end of the roller 7, leaving sufficient play for the rotation of said rioller. On the oppositely disposed extension of each arm the roller 7 1 is rotatably mounted between two-split retaining washers 8, as shown in Fig. 3.

After being inserted in the grooves 9, the open ends of said washer 8 are bent inwardly around the arm, as clearly shown in Fig. 4,. thereby locking said washer in its proper p0- sition. .These nollers 7, as shown, are of somewhat greater diameter than,thefiarms 5 and form the-limeafisll these points with the cans being conveyed, thus materially reducing the and also preventing the a n contact withandr' cans, which are't "s The invention as illustrated is applied to the conventional't ype of chain construction which may be of any of the appngveghs hapes adapted for use with spr ocketyeithe like, well known'in the art, the particular design and precise shape or dimensions of the chain forming no part of amateur-in tandv the same is not to be restricted her'etel f'ffi What we daimisw 1. In a conveyerpthe eornbln" track-way, of a conveyer cha a series of contiguous li'nl necting said links,'lateral{ on said pivot pins over:h'a"' n' s way, said chain in openat'i'v "deitiesbein supported in a plane above "'-the track-way. 3

2. In a conveyer,fthe parallel track-ways, of "am c eyer ehain comprising a series of c'ontigubuslinksl pi vot pins connecting said links; fgigtip'os'it el-fy j dis posed lateral extensionsfornied -on: certain aspivot pins spaced at regula Weis derhanging said track-ways,sai ha perative position being supported in- 'ttne above the plane of the track-waiyf Mi 3. In a conveyer, the combination t the parallel track-ways adapted td' receive a series of rolling cans, are convey clr'ain comprising a series of'contigiio pivot pins connecting said links disposed lateral extensions forme natively spaced pivot pins ove'rhangi track-ways, and adapted to engag thereon, said chain in operative p ing supported in a plane above the the track-ways, whereby the later'l c sions thereof will engage thecent e' the cans. i '4. In a conveyer the combina't parallel superposed continuous tr. adapted to receive a series of rolling a chain adapted to convey said. can ong said track-way from one fiigh't tonext, comprising a series of contiguous iiiks, pivot pins connecting said link s',f 'opp'd's i, tiely laterally extending arms, formeddntegral me with alternately spaced pivot oyerhanging said track-ways, rollersi c a ledfby said arms adapted to engage theica'ns ii track-ways, said chain in operativej'p it being supported in a plane aboveyth of the track-ways, whereby the late tensions thereof will at all times engag 1 center line of the cans, even 'thonglij said chain is reversed during its coursefroin one flight to the next. Y 7

1,418,573 I I n Q 5. A conveying chain for a parallel row engage the center line of their respective 'of cans' or the like, comprising a series of cans during the conveying operation.

contiguous links, pivot pins connecting said 'In testimony v whereof we aflix our signa- 10.

links, said chain adapted to be supported tures. I

5 along its longitudinal intermediate portion x a j and relatively long suspended lateral exten- 4 SIMES T. HOYT. sions, formed on said pivot pins adapted to Y Q I 7 JOHN S. NAPIER. 

